The present invention relates to the use of pharmaceutically acceptable zinc salts, preferably water soluble zinc salts alone or optionally, in combination with one or more of a protein pump inhibitor (PPI), H2 blocker, anti-H. pylori antibiotic/antimicrobial, cytoprotective agent or a combination agent as otherwise described herein for providing fast action with optional long duration effect in reducing gastric acid secretion, raising the pH of the stomach during resting phase as well as decreasing the duration of stomach acid release during a secretagogue phase and for treating conditions including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZE disease), ulcer disease, and gastric cancer, as well as preventing or reducing the likelihood of ulcer disease. In addition, the present methods are useful for treating patients who are non-responsive to proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and as an alternative to traditional therapies or conditions which are caused by rapid and complete inhibition of secretagogue induced acid secretion.